4 hours ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

No offence mate but bog off, I have my own mind. 

Shunted out at city, Aberdeen, failed to light up loan stints at Dumbarton and Stranraer. He has a poor touch, can’t run with the ball, can’t hold up, not seem him show anything in the air. He can bundle the odd goal in but he will never amount to more than a league one clogger. Absolutely no way will he ever be good enough for us. Blackpool is about his level and he will carve a decent journeyman footballer in the lower leagues. But don’t ever say I’m just following the crowd again thanks 

Nuttall isn’t worth persevering with. He was a pretty poor striker who has been coached well by Jonty and the first team to be a quality League 1 striker. His stock is up at the mo and with Graham, Gally, B.B. and Arma in those positions, the time has come to cash in imo.

6 hours ago, J*B said:

Three points are available as of August 3rd. You would like to think any player has 7 days to integrate into the squad, especially if overseas.

That means... oh, wait a minute.

Yup, be brilliant wouldn’t it. But look around you, nearly everyone is in the same boat. Waiting for the last week to do their business. Historically this has dragged on much longer (Aug 31st) so all fans should count their blessings as the jousting will soon be over.

5 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Yep. 

Not just a criticism of us but I've never understood why Clubs leave a large proportion of their business until the last few days of the window.

If Clubs persist in leaving it to the last minute the authorities might as well reduce the transfer window to a month like January. 

But you could just imagine the outcry from the Clubs were that to happen

Clubs leave it to the end to see which one finally succumbs to pressure and takes a discount. Then it creates a domino effect. ‘We can now have this player for y so we might as well let our player go for x.’

They have cut the Summer transfer by three weeks to combat this problem and it’s frustrating for the fans. But ultimately it saves clubs millions to wait. 

The trick is to do the deal whilst they’re desperate but not too late when they cannot replace them and the fee goes up! 

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

Very fair comment.

However if you haven't made signings you need by this late stage the suspicion must be you've missed out on all your main targets and are just scratching around for anyone still available.

So arguably you've failed anyway.

Maybe, but in that case then 90% of clubs have failed. Most of them are heading into the final week without the players they want. 

Missing out on targets is completely normal. The key is, at 5pm on August 8th, have we got the defence sorted? If we have then I genuinely believe that we have the options inmidfield and the forward line to achieve our stated goal.

If not, then we have failed and the manager needs to face the music because that defence is not good enough. But no amount of worrying right now changes that.

It’s just common sense lads. The window closes on August 8th. To judge it before then is just odd. If we don’t get the defenders in then we’ve failed. End of.

Just now, OJRovers said:

Adam Maher mentioned as a target earlier in the window. Attacking midfielder. Was this mentioned at the time?

Yes

Just now, Swanson said:

Hopefully something in the German centerback link since TM didn't deny it ?

Not only did he not deny it. It would appear that he’s confirmed Bormuth as one of the targets! 

1 hour ago, Mattyblue said:

Also, Darren Fletcher only became a United first team player in 2004. Keane was on his way out of United by then.

Poor stuff from the site ‘football man’.

This guy!! ???

Nice one Marty! ?

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Can't make his mind up anyway. One minute he's telling us how highly the Club rate the likes of Buckley and Butterworth and are anxious to promote them, the next news he's telling us how blessed we are to have Evans as back up which if it were to be the case would block the progression of the youngsters stone dead.

Nothing has changed about my opinions. I posted something this morning which pretty much spelt out how I see us challenging for the top six. If we had a first XI which pushed Bennett, Mulgrew, Evans etc onto the bench then bearing in mind they featured heavily last season, it would mean we were progressing as a team. The young lads sit in behind the 18 and are in the squad / team if there’s any loss of form or injury. 

Like I said, it’s not difficult. I don’t know why you struggle so much tbh.

Apart from that, I plated Johnson up for you all 24hrs before anyone else, told you that Buckley was going to be the star before they came back for preseason and have 100% maintained that I will not judge the manager on transfers until the transfer window is shut.

What do you bring to the table pal? A load of whinging dressed up as ‘balanced’ debate as far as I can see.

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

Nice new spin you're trying to put on it but Evans isn't good enough, whether starting or as back up. And he has the added downside of probably being one of our higher earners.

If you're not good enough if doesn't matter if you're playing for nothing, there's no point having you around the Club.

Ffs...what spin? My opinion is that Evans is good enough to back up Travis and Johnson. Just like Darren Fletcher backed up a Scholes and Keane and Billy McKinley backed up Tugay and Flitcroft. Essentially, the back up is a lesser player, hence why they ‘back up’. But in terms of the squad, when Evans arrived he was backed up by the likes of Lowe, Akpan and Guthrie. So the fact that we’re now even discussing Evans as back up or for sale proves that we have progressed.

imo Smallwood is not good enough but to simply say that they’re essentially both the same is to ignore Evans career in the championship and international caps vs Richie’s jobbing around League 1 career.

Why is that so difficult for you to understand? 

39 minutes ago, DE. said:

The problem with Evans as back up, as others have mentioned, is that he isn't being paid a back up player's wage. Why hand him a new contract last season on what was probably the same level of wage just to sit on the bench? I doubt he would be happy with that and other players being paid less but starting ahead of him would be perfectly entitled to ask the manager to raise their salaries accordingly. It's best for all parties if Evans moves on imo, but I get the feeling Mowbray does not see him as a backup option and we'll be seeing more of Evans than people are assuming. 

You’re overthinking this. It doesn’t matter what we’re paying him unless you’re paying the wages. The fact of the matter is that since he signed that contract we have now replaced him with Travis and Johnson. So from a fans point of view, why would we get rid of an international player who can back out team up?

More importantly, teams who play for those top 6 positions need to have players of Evans calibre in their bench.

30 minutes ago, BlackburnEnd75 said:

Mulgrew wasn't dropped despirte his really poor form. He got injured and when he came back Williams had played a few decent games at cb so was left on the bench.

Ahhh so he was fit but DIDNT play? Ergo...??

42 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

Oh come on.

Bennett and Mulgrew will be permanent first team fixtures for a long time yet and no way is Mowbray leaving out Bennett for Nyambe, now, October or May

 It does seem that Evan's has at least been relegated to being behind Travis and Johnson though so that's one plus.

Also Rothwell, I'd say in Mowbrays head he's behind Armstrong, Gallagher & Brereton for the "wide forward" roles at the moment.

I take your point on Bennett but with Ada and Nyambe chasing that position down he won’t hang on forever.

Why will Mulgrew be a permenant fixture? He was dropped for Williams for the last two months of last season....so logic would say he’s only starting because Williams is injured.

Rothwell has been our best player since March and I fully expect him to start.

Just now, OssyLad said:

Must be only me who thinks Evans is under rated and is a decent back up ?

I do. I think he’s a decent player and more than adequate back up to Johnson and Travis.

Just now, BankEnd Rover said:

Are Evans & Bennett classed as "backup" though? I honestly don't think Bennett ever will. Possibly (Hopefully) Evans will be this season. 

I don’t know mate. My feeling / hope is that at some point this season (by October) we will have settled down with the new players, including the expected two new defenders and we’ll have a bench of Leutwiler, Bennett, Mulgrew, Evans, Downing, Brereton and Graham with the likes of Buckley, Butterworth, JRC and Grayson / Magloire backing them up and a team of

Walton

Nyambe | Lenihan | German/Croat | Bell

Travis | Johnson

Armstrong | Dack | Rothwell

Gallagher

42 minutes ago, Stuart said:

It’s also telling that we can’t seem to sell players like Smallwood et al. Largely because of the wages that they have been awarded. Nobody was beating down our door for them anyway but when they are being paid over the odds it’s even more difficult. So while they are here and being paid the most, they play.

But you you don’t know what they earn, who has or hasn’t enquired for them or if the club even wants rid of them?

I would personally like to see Smallwood go but I’d want to keep Bennett and Evans as back up to the first team.

Just now, roversfan99 said:

Youd lose decent money then.

I wouldn’t bet on it!

Just now, bluebruce said:

I'll be honest Paul, I'd prefer someone a little more seasoned, in this league if possible. I feel like Tosin would be a good addition if it was him and an experienced Championship (or other top flight...and no not just ten games) CB, as long as we don't have a clause where we have to play him. Alongside a 23 year old with only ten Bundesliga appearances though, I'd be wary. Could turn out to be a gem of course. I recall the last time we bought a fringe squad player CB from a German side. Worked out pretty well! Just think it's a little risky to tie up our defensive reinforcements purely in  young lads, but I won't be slamming it if it's these two. It'd be a 'wait and see with reservations'.

Fair.

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

https://www.skysports.com/transfer-centre

Go to 13:44

Ah, so 10 mins. Still think he prob had this one and waited until it sneaked out before going ahead. He usually says he needs to check it out first.

Still can’t see many of you being happy if we do sign Ada and this guy. I’d put decent money on some grumbling if we signed Messi! 

“He’ll never do it on a cold Tuesday in Wigan!!” ???

1 hour ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

It looks like it was after it was already out there?

Nope, tbf Sharpe tweeted around 2pm. Lyle Thomas (Of Sky) at 3pm and Sky got onto it around 4pm.

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

But he's a journalist not a club employee.

True, but he won’t have a job for long if he burns his bridges with the club. It looks like he broke the German defender story anyway.

Just now, JHRover said:

Classic blame deflection tactics in play. All gearing up for the inevitable 'we tried our best but couldn't get the deals over the line'. Try to convince people that Rovers and its owners/staff aren't responsible it's external people and other clubs.

Spent £5 million on Gallagher, claim to still have the Raya money available yet can't get a CB to improve on what we have.

Starting pre season games with 4 midfielders in defence. 

Classic nothing. You’re making claims like you actually know what’s happening...you don’t.

Just now, JHRover said:

Wish people would stop trying to convince themselves that the reason we haven't strengthened at the back is because we don't have the money or other clubs aren't prepared to sell. We do have the money having spent more than £10 million net over the last 2 years. For some reason, as yet unknown, our owners/manager have decided to not use those funds to improve the defence.

Selling Dack to raise money with a view to spending some on a quality CB is ludicrous, because our manager or owners don't want to spend on a CB. 

Ahh I’m glad you cleared that up. 

I can’t work out where this link has come from? Has Sharpe broken it?

Just now, MarkBRFC said:

You say that, but they will just go back to the under 23s save for a couple of league cup games, no way will we see them in the match day 18 with the bloated squad that we have.

Magloire, Buckley & Butterworth would all benefit from a year in league one playing every week.

 

The squad is only currently bloated in Midfield and the forward lines which effects Buckley and Butterworth. I can see  the latter going out but I’m pretty sure that Buckley will be in the match day squad (bench) straight away.

Grayson, Magloire and JRC are right in the mix as it stands with us losing Rodwell and Downing as well as injuries to Williams and Hart.

My personal opinion is that Buckley is ready to impact the first team now. The wildcard is Grayson. All would benefit from a year in league 1 but we have to look at our own interests first.

Just now, Wing Wizard Windy Miller said:

Hang on.  So they aren't good enough for the first 11 but good squad players?

Surely a club would want its highest earners making the biggest impact on the pitch.

Would you be happy with a bench of:

Leutwiler

Mulgrew

Evans

Williams

Bennett

Downing

Brereton

(That's dropping Smallwood altogether)

 

 

 

 

 

 

My point was that if we had players in the first XI good enough to have those on the bench then we would be ready to go up...